Power folding rearview mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

A power folding mirror assembly has a mirror housing that defines a cavity therein. An applique is mounted proximate the mirror housing. The applique has a pivot arm extending into the mirror housing. The pivot arm has a pivot point thereon. The mirror housing is coupled to the pivot arm at the pivot point. A housing arm extends from the mirror housing. A motor mounted within the vehicle has a drive gear coupled thereto. A gear mechanism is coupled between the housing arm and the drive gear so that as the motor rotates, the pivot gear causes the mirror housing to pivot about the pivot point.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automotive vehicle comprising: an applique mounted to the vehicle;   a mirror housing defining a cavity;   a pivot for rotatably coupling said mirror housing to said applique;   a motor mounted with the automotive vehicle, said motor having an output shaft with a pinion gear coupled thereon: and:   a pivot gear coupled to said pinion gear and pivotally coupled to said mirror housing for coupling said motor to said mirror housing and rotating said mirror housing about said pivot;   said pivot gear being pivotally coupled to said housing via a link pivotally coupled to said housing and to said pivot gear.   
     
     
       2. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said pivot comprises a pivot arm coupled to said mirror housing, said pivot arm having a pivot point. 
     
     
       3. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said pivot gear has an arc-shaped segment gear formed thereon. 
     
     
       4. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said link is curved. 
     
     
       5. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring mounting said motor to the vehicle. 
     
     
       6. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a vehicle door, said motor mounted within said vehicle door. 
     
     
       7. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a forward pivot point about which said mirror housing pivots in a forward direction. 
     
     
       8. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 7, further comprising a slide means coupled to said applique for releasably engaging a pivot arm upon application of a forward force applied to said housing. 
     
     
       9. An automotive vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein said slide means comprises a flexible slide and a spring urging a portion of said slide out of a slide housing. 
     
     
       10. A mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: a mirror housing defining a cavity;   an applique proximate said mirror housing, said applique having a pivot arm extending into said mirror housing; said pivot arm having a pivot point thereon,   said mirror housing coupled to said pivot arm at said pivot point;   a housing arm extending from said mirror housing being pivotally fixed with respect to said mirror housing;   a motor;   a drive gear coupled to said mirror;   a gear mechanism coupled between said housing arm and said drive gear so that as said motor rotates, said pivot gear causes said mirror housing to pivot about the pivot point;   said pivot arm having a base portion, said base portion and said mirror pivoting about a forward pivot point upon the application of a forward force to said mirror housing; and   said applique having a slide coupled to said base portion for releasably engaging said base portion upon application of a forward force to said mirror housing and reengaging said base upon a release of said forward force.   
     
     
       11. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said motor is mounted within said vehicle. 
     
     
       12. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a spring mounting said motor to said vehicle. 
     
     
       13. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said gear mechanism comprises a pivot gear coupled to said drive gear and a link coupled to said mirror housing. 
     
     
       14. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said pivot gear is rotatably coupled to said vehicle at a pivot point. 
     
     
       15. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said pivot gear comprises an arc shaped segment gear, said arc-shaped segment gear engaging said drive gear. 
     
     
       16. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said link is arc-shaped. 
     
     
       17. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said drive gear is a pinion gear. 
     
     
       18. A mirror assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a slide means coupled between said applique and said mirror housing for reducing wear between said mirror housing and said applique. 
     
     
       19. An automotive vehicle comprising: an applique mounted to the vehicle;   a mirror housing defining a cavity;   a pivot for rotatably coupling said mirror housing to said applique;   a motor mounted within the automotive vehicle said motor having an output shaft with a pinion gear coupled thereon, said pinion gear having a pivotal connection with the vehicle along an axis transverse with a rotation axis of the pinion gear; and   a pivot gear for coupling said pinion gear to said mirror housing and rotating said mirror housing about said pivot.